Stock Market & Financial Investment News

Herbalife says 'stands behind quality' of productsHerbalife issued the following statement regarding the strength and integrity of its business: "Herbalife has the utmost trust in the integrity of our business model and that we are in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. We are cooperating fully with the FTC and welcome the opportunity to clear up misinformation in the marketplace. Herbalife stands behind the quality of our products and our commitment to member satisfaction and consumer protection. Herbalife continues to face an unprecedented and unrelenting attack from Pershing Square to support its $1B bet to manipulate and drive Herbalife's stock price to zero to the detriment of our investors, members, customers and employees. Herbalife is confident that the facts are on its side and that it will overcome Pershing Square's campaign of misinformation about the Company as the truth about Pershing Square's increasingly desperate accusations is revealed. Attacks on Herbalife have been clearly orchestrated by Pershing Square and its agents. Pershing Square's attack on the Company lacks any impartiality or accountability. Pershing Square has no duty to any member of the public and is unhindered by the disclosure obligations imposed upon publicly traded corporations. With Pershing Square's limited accountability, in light of the historical regulatory scrutiny placed on Herbalife, it has made the astonishing claim that it is a "provable certainty" Herbalife is a massive, sprawling fraud that had gone undetected for more than 30 years. Pershing Square is claiming that decades of Herbalife management, and a material number of members had all kept this secret.Pershing Square has admittedly spent more than $20B and 18 months trying to find former Herbalife members from as far back as 2008 that will complain about their experience with the Company. In fact, Pershing Square has even been willing to pay multi-million dollar bounties to anyone willing to generate negative publicity against Herbalife and support Pershing Square's agenda. The reason why Pershing Square has so few relative voices is because, as demonstrated through third party studies, the overwhelming majority of our members have been very satisfied, and we are proud of that track record. In fact, Pershing Square's own well-financed campaign to find dissatisfied customers has actually largely validated our consumer reputation. Ultimately, Pershing Square's campaign is based on propaganda."

Herbalife rallies, retraces, levels to watchThe shares hit an intraday high at $48.55 and have since turned lower. At the last price of $46.04, support is at $45.11 and then at $44.11, a prior pivot high. Resistance is at $46.24.

Herbalife continues recent strength with 10% jumpShares of multi-level marketing company Herbalife (HLF) were up about 10% in morning trading after being up as much as 15% to $48.55 earlier this morning. On March 16, a judge in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California granted Herbalife its motion to dismiss a class action complaint brought on behalf of shareholders who allege that the company and its executives violated federal securities laws by misrepresenting the "nature, scope and legality" of the company's business and operations. On March 20, Pershing Square, which noted that Bill Ackman and the firm were not parties to the Awad case decided the prior week, said the courtís decision "did not address in any way whether Herbalife is an illegal pyramid scheme, nor did the Court exonerate or bless Herbalifeís business practices." Since March 16, Herbalife shares are up about 29%.

Herbalife breaks above top of recent range, levels to watchShares have broken out of the top of the recent trading range at $40. This is bullish price behavior. At the current price of $40.79 next resistance is at $42. Support is at $40. It would be bearish for price if the stock resumes trading below the $40 area.

Herbalife wins dismissal of class action 'pyramid scheme' lawsuitOn March 16, a judge in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California granted Herbalife its motion to dismiss a class action complaint brought on behalf of shareholders who allege that the company and its executives violated federal securities laws by misrepresenting the "nature, scope and legality" of the company's business and operations. According to the plaintiffs, Herbalife and its executives, including CEO Michael Johnson, misrepresented Herbalife as a legitimate multi-level marketing company when it "is actually an illegal pyramid scheme." The court concluded that the suit's plaintiffs have not adequately pled loss causation, meaning that the court need not consider Herbalifeís alternative arguments, according to a court filing. Shares of Herbalife are up 3% in pre-market trading after the court dismissal was widely reported by Bloomberg last night.